How Do I Become an Activist for HIV Treatment Funding?
There seemed to be some glimmers of hope with HIV treatment access in the U.S., and now cuts in funding could lay waste to these advances. Is there any activism happening in the ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Programs) arena?

How Can I Deal With HIV/AIDS Stigma?
I've noticed a lot of stigma attached to being HIV positive. It's almost like I'm a leper in other people's eyes. I'm pissed off at people in general and have no compassion for others anymore. I've tried numerous times to go back to school and become active in the community by volunteering but it seems that all doors close on me. What can I do?

Should I Take Avandia to Regain Lost Face and Body Fat?
I switched from Zerit (stavudine, d4T) to Viread (tenofovir) a year and a half ago, and since then my lipoatrophy has stopped progressing. I want to take Avandia (rosiglitazone) to regain lost facial and body fat. Do you think this drug will be helpful?

Do You Know of Any Steroids or Hormones to Help Me Maintain My Weight?
I've been taking some type of steroid for the past 16 years. I was able to maintain my weight until six months ago when I started losing slowly. I'm 6 feet 1 inch tall and I currently weigh 159 pounds; I normally weigh between 168 and 172. I currently take Oxandrin (oxandrolone). What should I be taking along with it?

Can I Change My Dosing Time to Fit My Schedule One Day Out of the Week?
I always take Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) at 10:30 p.m. and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) at 7:30 a.m. before I go to university at 8 a.m. This semester I have class at 7 a.m. one day a week; the other days are the same as always. Would taking my medication at 6:30 a.m. on just that one day cause any problems? How flexible can I be with the hours I take my meds every day?

Any Ideas for a Support Group for Recently Diagnosed HIVers?
(A recent post from the "Living With HIV" board)

I'm a social work intern at an HIV clinic and I'm looking to start a support group for people that are newly diagnosed. Can anyone share some activities or topics they've found helpful in support groups they've been to so I can incorporate similar elements into my own? -- angew

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OTHER HEALTH ISSUES & HIV/AIDS

Could My Recent Cognitive Issues Be HIV Related?
In the past year I've experienced short-term memory loss, I can't remember names or faces, I don't seem to have any energy and I often lose my words. I'm also on depression medications, which I know make me tired, but the other cognitive issues are scaring me. Could they be HIV related? Is there anything I can do?

Can Recreational Drug Use Affect a Person's Immune System?
I have a friend who's HIV positive and addicted to cocaine. His CD4 count is down to 250 and he has been taking medication for a month and a half. Is it true that cocaine can bring your CD4 count down even farther, even while taking medication?

Can Melatonin Supplements Affect HIV Test Results?
There was a paper a while ago that talked about a negative correlation between HIV viral load and melatonin. I'm worried about a recent possible exposure, and wondering if using melatonin supplements could render a person's viral load undetectable to the point where HIV would not show up on even a very sensitive test. Is this likely to happen?

Can "the Vapors" Transmit HIV?
What if you're talking to an HIV-positive person with your face quite close to theirs, and the person has a bloody nose? Is there any risk of HIV being transmitted through the vapor from the person's nose?